Game-puzzle



(No Model.)

0. P. HARRIS. GAME PUZZLE;

No. 444,352. Patented Jan. 6,1891.

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CHARLES P. HARRIS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GAME-PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,352, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed May 27, 1890. Serial No. 353,317. (No model.)

$0- at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OHARLEs P. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Puzzles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention.

My invention relates to game-puzzles of the class in which manual dexterity is required in the solution, and more specifically to the class in which a ball or series of balls is caused to traverse passages with the object of arriving at a terminal point.

Figure 1 is a plan View, and Fig. 2 a transverse section on line a; or of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A represents a base-plate, having a continuous edge flange a, so as to form a shallow box.

13 represents a partition. Shown in this case as extending longitudinally and dividing the box into two completely-separated compartments. In each of these compartments is formed amaze of passages sufficiently wide to permit a ball of quicksilver or other material to roll within them. The general form of the maze is of'course immaterial with the exception of certain particulars to be hereinafter mentioned. The maze may be made of any suitable material, such as sheet metal or wood; or the base-plate may be made of glass and the edge flange, partition, and ribs, which produce the maze formed in the mold or press at one operation.

If desired, the box may be provided with a transparent cover. At each side of the box is formed a hole 1) for the admission of the balls which traverse the passages, one ball being provided for" each compartment. These holes may be closed by a plug or any suitable way to prevent the escape of the balls.

The peculiarities of the maze before alluded to will now be noticed more fully. It will be observed that the terminal recesses c of the two mazes are located opposite one another and at the middle of the partition, where they may be emphasized by a slight depression in the base. The object of the puzzle is to so manipulate it that both balls shall be brought to these terminal points, each on its own side. It is evident that it is impossible to do this directly, because the openings into the terminal chambers are placed opposite one another, and the inclining of the base to permit one ball to run in would permit the other to escape at once. I therefore provide pockets cl d in both compartments, which in practice should be somewhat disguised, so that their use will not be at once apparent. In manipulating the puzzle' correctly the ball in one compartment is caused to traverse the maze until it reaches one of these pockets, the shape of which permits it to remain there. The other ball is then caused to traverse its maze without special attention to the pockets d of that compartment until it has been brought to its terminal point. It is then possible by careful manipulation to disengage the first ball from the pocket d and permit it to roll into its terminal recess, thus accomplishing the solution of the puzzle. The solution of this puzzle therefore requires not only a certain degree of dexterity in guiding the balls through the maze, but also necessitates a certain amount of thought to comprehend the obj ect and purpose of the pockets (6 (Z.

hat I claim is 1. A game-puzzle consisting of a board or box divided by a partition into two compartments, a maze of passages in each compartment, and terminal recesses placed on opposite sides of the partition, formed by depressions in the flat upper face of the base-plate, substantially as described.

2. A game-puzzle consisting of a box or board, divided by a partition into two compartments, terminal recesses on opposite sides of the partition, a maze of passages in each compartment, and the holding-pockets d, of substantially the form shown, communicating with the maze of passages on each side, substantially as described.

3. A game-puzzle consisting of a box or board divided into independent compartments, a maze of passages in each compartment, a terminal recess in each compartment, oppositely-placed entrances to said terminal recesses, and holding-pockets, substantially as described, communicating with the maze in each compartment, substantially as set forth.

CHAS. P. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

H. D. HAWKS, GEO. W. OooK, Jr. 

